Page 20 - ARUBA TODAY

A20 SPORTS
Thursday 14 November 2019

Continued from Page 17 want to follow the rules and line," he said. "And I think
Houston general manager we want to compete and there are enough people
Jeff Luhnow declined to win. That's what every other involved in it, it would be
talk about specifics. club does, as well." pretty brazen to do certain
"We take the allegation Danny Farquhar, who things. And when you do, I
seriously and we're go- pitched for the Chicago think people are going to
ing to look into it. If you're White Sox twice at Minute find out about it."
not following the rules, it's Maid Park in September MLB already is investigating
a serious matter," he said 2017, told The Athletic of the Astros. Assistant general
Tuesday at the annual GM '"a banging from the dug- manager Brandon Taub-
meetings. "I'm not going out, almost like a bat hitting man was fired for directing
to get into exactly what I the bat rack every time a inappropriate comments
knew or anybody knew at changeup signal got put at female reporters during
this point. So I'm just going down." He said after Chi- a clubhouse celebration
to have to wait and see. cago changed to more after the team beat the
But I'm sure there will be an complex signals "the bang- New York Yankees to win
appropriate time to answer ing stopped." the AL pennant on Oct. 19.
that question directly." Former Boston Red Sox The team issued and then
Luhnow said he hoped the pitcher Carson Smith add- retracted a statement ac-
allegations wouldn't put a ed to the sign stealing al- cusing a Sports Illustrated
damper on Houston's re- legations on Twitter, say- reporter of trying to "fab-
cent run of success, which ing that the Astros bullpen Houston Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow speaks during a ricate a story." Taubman
includes the team's first catcher would send signs media availability during the Major League Baseball general was fired by the Astros on
managers annual meetings Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2019, in Scotts-
World Series title in 2017 to certain batters. He add- dale, Ariz. Oct. 24.
and an AL pennant this ed that the "Astros went Associated Press Luhnow said he didn't think
season. to extreme measures, un- the Taubman situation and
"Teams are competing doubtedly still do, and it's mine any necessary next "we certainly did not know the sign stealing allegations
with one another and ev- paid off for them." steps," MLB said in a state- anything definitive at the are related.
erybody's trying to find an MLB strengthened its rules ment. time." The Dodgers lost to "I don't think they're tied to-
edge," Luhnow said. "But against sign stealing before Los Angeles Dodgers presi- the Astros in seven games. gether, but they obviously
we all have to follow the the 2019 season, instituting dent of baseball opera- "There are things that have have come one after an-
rules and the rules are set procedures attempting to tions Andrew Friedman kind of existed since the be- other it seems like the last
by Major League Baseball. ensure teams did not use said Wednesday there was ginning of time. And then few weeks," Luhnow said.
We all agree to follow them video to steal signs. "scuttlebutt" that the Astros there are other things that "It's disappointing. If there
and if you don't there's "After we review this new were stealing signs during are even more egregious is an issue that we need to
ramifications to that. We information we will deter- the 2017 World Series, but and clearly across the address, we'll address it."q